Structural lock



May 12, 1964 W. A. JENNINGS STRUCTURAL LOCK Filed Oct. 12, 1962 //Y V5 70/? WILL/ 4M 4. JENNINGS ATTOIPNEK 3,132,405 Patented May 12, 1964 3,132,405 STRUCTURAL LOCK William A. Jennings, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Economy Forms Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Oct. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 230,124 2 Claims. (Cl. 25-131) This invention relates generally to a locking device for securing form members together and more particularly to an improved locking pin for releasably securing spreader ties to spaced concrete form panels.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved spreader tie clamp for metal concrete forms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking pin which is readily connected to and releasable from spreader ties and forms without the use of special tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking pin for clamping a spreader tie across the top of a form structure wherein the spreader tie may be of the same type throughout the form structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simplified, low cost and relatively strong locking pin for spreader ties and which is rugged in construction, efficient in use, and economical to manufacture.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portions of a pair of concrete form structures connected together by a spreader tie with the locking pins of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the locking pin as contemplated by the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view showing the locking pin in the unlock position indicated as A in FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing the locking pin in the lock position indicated as B in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE 1, fragmentary portions of laterally spaced concrete metal forms 10 and 11 illustrated in assembled position. The forms are conventional, commercially available members having a rectangular shape and which are substantially identical, differing only as to size. The forms have opposed flat base plates 12 and 13 to confine wet concrete therebetween. Laterally projecting flanges 14 and 16 each having a plurality of rows of apertures 17 are secured to the peripheral edges of the plates 12 and 13 to permit the coupling of abutting forms. One or more stifiening ribs 18 and 19 project laterally of the base plate and extend longitudinally and vertically of the forms.

The lateral distance between the forms 10 and 11 during the pouring and setting of the concrete is maintained by a plurality of spreader ties 20 having apertures 21 at each end thereof.

The spreader ties are dispersed over the surface of the form structure. Most of the spreader ties extend through the flat walls 12 and 13 and are connected at their ends to the vertical ribs 19 by means of locking pins. The ribs 19 have apertures which correspond in position with the apertures 17 of the flanges 14 and 16 thus enabling the use of substantially identical spreader ties throughout the form structure.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the spreader tie 20 is positioned on top of the top flanges 14 and 16 of the forms instead of in the usual position through a spreader tie hole in the forms. This step is used to keep the top spreader tie above the concrete when concrete is poured close to the top of the form thus eliminating spalling or cracking of the concrete and loss of the spreader tie. The top spreader ties are substantially identical to the spreader ties extending through the forms 10 and 11. The apparatus 21 in the ends of the spreader ties 20 have substantially the same diameter as the apertures 17 in the flanges 14 and 16. A locking pin 22 has a portion which extends through the aligned apertures 17 and 21 to connect the spreader tie 20 to the flanges 14 and 16 of the panels. The locking pins which connect the spreader ties to the vertical ribs 19 are substantially identical to locking pin 22.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the locking pin 22 has an L-shape'and is formed from an elongated rod means having a circular cross section area which has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the holes 17 and 21. Integrally formed with one end of the body 23 of the rod means is a leg 24 extending at an angle of about between and 87 from the axis of the body 23. The leg has a circular cross section with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the holes 17 and 21 and terminates in a chamfer end or toe 26. An offset spur means 27 is spaced from the toe 26 and is secured to the body by means of weld or brazing 28. The spur means 27 lies in the plane of the body 23 and leg 24 and is open toward the toe 26 or outer end of the leg 24 to form a clamp recess 29 between the body 23 and the spur 27. The recess 29 has a width which is slightly larger than the thickness of the flange 14 of the panel and a wedge-shaped bottom 30. The outer end 31 of the spur 27 is chamfered to provide an inclined plane for the outer edge of the lateral flange 14.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the distance between the end of the spur 27 and the leg 24 is slightly greater than the width of the lateral flange 14 from the inside row of holes to the outside edge thereby permitting the leg 24 to be inserted through the holes 17 and 21 without interference from the spur 27. The spreader tie 20 is placed flat upon the top lateral flange 14 of the panel 10 with the holes 17 and 21 in alignment, so that the leg 24 of the lock pin 22 can be inserted therethrough. In this position the body 23 extends in a plane which converges with the plane formed by the flange 14 and engages the upper surface 32 of the flange 14.

The lock pin is firmly secured to the flange 14 by rotating it about the axis of the leg 24. As shown in FIG- URE 1, the lock pin is rotated from the unlocked position A to the locked position B. This is accomplished by striking the body 23 with an ordinary hammer. In the locked position the spur 27 engages the bottom surface 33 of the flange 14 and the body engages the top surface 32 of the flange 14 thereby clamping the outer edge of the lateral flange 14 in the recess 29. In order to release the pin 22 from the flange 14 the construction worker, with the use of a hammer, strikes the body 23 of the pin to move it in the unlocked position indicated as A in FIG- URE 1 and shown in section in FIGURE 3.

The locking pin leg 24 can be withdrawn from the aligned openings 17 and 21 thereby permitting the removal of the spreader tie 20. The spreader tie 20 and locking pins 22 are immediately available for subsequent use as they are not destroyed or distorted in use.

While there have been shown, described, and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, changes in form and details of the apparatus illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is intended to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A locking pin comprising:

(a) an L-shaped rod means having a straight elongated body and a leg extended from one end of said body at an angle of about 80 to 87 degrees from the axis of said body, said leg having a circular cross section throughout its length and a chamfered toe, and

(b) ofiset spur means secured to the body and positioned in the plane formed by the body and leg, said spur means being spaced from said leg and forming with said body a clamp recess open to said leg.

2. In combination,

(a) a first fiat member having an outer edge and at least one hole formed therein and extending substantially parallel to said edge,

(b) a second member having a hole formed therein, said second member being positioned on said first member with said holes in axial alignment, and

(c) an L-shaped locking means for connecting said members having a straight elongated body and a leg extending from one end of said body at an angle of about 80 to 87 degrees from the axis of said body, said leg having a circular cross section throughout its length and a chamfered toe, offset spur means secured to the body adjacent the other end thereof, said spur means extending in the plane formed by the body and leg and being open toward the outer end of the leg to form a clamp recess therebetween, whereby said leg extends through said aligned holes to hold said first and second members in juxtaposed relationship and said body and spur means being engageable with opposite surfaces of the first member adjacent the outer edge thereof to clamp the locking means to said first member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,458,399 Fairley June 12, 1923 1,840,169 Nash Jan. 5, 1932 2,017,553 Troiel Oct. 15, 1935 2,618,039 Hyre Nov. 18, 1952 2,727,294 Arrighini Dec. 20, 1955 

1. A LOCKING PIN COMPRISING: (A) AN L-SHAPED ROD MEANS HAVING A STRAIGHT ELONGATED BODY AND A LEG EXTENDED FROM ONE END OF SAID BODY AT AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 80 TO 87 DEGREES FROM THE AXIS OF SAID BODY, SAID LEG HAVING A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH AND A CHAMFERED TOE, AND (B) OFFSET SPUR MEANS SECURED TO THE BODY AND POSITIONED IN THE PLANE FORMED BY THE BODY AND LEG, SAID SPUR MEANS BEING SPACED FROM SAID LEG AND FORMING WITH SAID BODY A CLAMP RECESS OPEN TO SAID LEG. 